Sanitary garment



3, 1935. H. WrBALLARD ET A1. 2

SANITARY GARMENT Original Filed Nov." 21, 1932 Patented Aug. 13, 1.935

PATENT OFFICE SANITARY GARMENT Howard W. Ballard and Doris E. Krabbe,

Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 21, 1932, Serial No. 643,592

I I Renewed January 4, 1935 1 Claim.

This invention relates to womens sanitary garments, and particularly to holders or belts for retaining sanitary napkins in position.

An object of the invention is to provide a single garment for supporting a sanitary napkin in position, and serving as a shield to prevent any moisture from reaching the outer clothing of the wearer.

A feature of the invention is the elimination of safety pins and all bulky metal clasps for gripping the napkin.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which refers to the drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of our sanitary garment as it appears from the inside.

Figure 2 is an edge sectional view taken along the center line of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the invention comprises an apron having a middle portion I of thin waterproof material such as rubberized silk, sewed or otherwise joined at the front end to an exten sion 2, and similarly joined at the rear end to an extension 3. Extensions 2 and 3 are preferably of an open weave, absorbent fabric having a slight amount of elasticity. Elastic straps 4 and 5 are secured between the ends of the garment for holding it on the wearer. Thus each strap 4 and 5 has one end secured to one corner of the front extension 2 and the other end secured to the rear corner of the rear extension 3. A snap fastener 6 may constitute the connection between one of the straps 4 or 5, and the front extension 2, to facilitate the changing of napkins without completely removing the garment. In use, the straps 4 and 5 fit about the waist just above the hips and hold the apron I snugly against the crotch of the wearer. Obviously the straps 4 and 5 may be adjustable in length if desired to adapt the garment to women of different size.

The waterproofed mid-portion I of the apron is provided with an extra thickness of material at its rear and forward ends, these extra thicknesses being joined to the apron I by stitching alongthe end edges of the apron I, as shown at I I, and also along the side edges as shown at I. The same stitching II and 1 may serve to join the waterproof apron I to the extensions 2 and 3. The extra thickness of waterproofed materials maybe of particular type and shape.

--the ends of the napkin, keeping the ends smooth provided with a stitched hem along their inner edges 8, but they are not joined to the apron I along these edges. The extra thickness therefore, defines pockets 9 for receiving the ends of a napkin. By stitching the extra thickness to the apron I along the circular lines III, the depth and width of the pockets 9 may be adjusted to fit napkins The pockets grip and flat, and preventing any displacement or escape of the napkin from the apron.

When supported on the body of a wearer by the straps 4 and 5, the lateral edges of the apron I are drawn upward aboutthe sides of the napkin, forming a water-tight trough for positively preventing any possible escape of liquid and resultant contamination of outer wearing apparel. This drawing or tensioning effect on the edges of the apron I is accentuated by joining the straps 4 and 5 to the extensions 2 and 3 at such an angle that they normally extend laterally therefrom. When the straps are pulled up over the hips of the wearer, they then tend to pull the lateral edges of the extensions 2 and 3 and of the apron'l in snugly against the body, and form a cradle for the napkin.

The front extension 2, when the garment is being worn, is so shaped as to fit over the lower abdomen without extending against the thighs or groins. This permits it to lie smooth and flat, without wrinkling. The extension 2 also extends up high enough to completely cover the pelvic region and serves as an additional shield to prevent the pelvic hair from being visible through a shear outer dress.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that our improved sanitary garment not only serves as a support for a napkin, but combines the important functions of a separate shield or under garment and may if desired, constitute the sole under garment worn.

We claim:

A garment of the class described comprising an elongated strip for supporting and enclosing a sanitary napkin and a pair of supporting straps each connecting a front and rear corner of said strip on each side and adapted to extend over a hip of the wearer, said elongated strip comprising a middle portion of water-proof material of length slightly greater than a sanitary napkin and of a width slightly greater than a sanitary napkin to completely enclose the napkin against the body of the wearer, end portions of porous absorbent fabric extending beyond said middle portion and joined thereto, said front end portion being gradually widened towards the forward end and being dimensioned to substantially just cover the pubic region of the wearer, an inwardly directed pockets at opposite ends of said middle portion of water-proof material for receiving the ends of a napkin and positively confining the napkin, longitudinally, to said middle portion.

HOWARD W. BALLARD. DORIS E. KRABBE. 

